The Peacekeeper

By Jacqueline Druga

Raising four boys alone is not an easy task. Widower, Joe Slagel tries, he really does. He works hard, provides a stable home with lots of love and just the right amount of discipline. But Joe Slagel also provides his sons with something else, disposable stepmothers. He never intends for them to be disposable, however, the mischievous doings of his four children make it impossible for him to keep a wife, and them a stepmother, for very long.

Boy will be boys. But when the final straw is snapped and the fifth stepmother packs up and leaves without notice, Joe realizes it is time to bring in a professional.

Tough, strong, tender, not afraid to run a tight ship, and equipped with the ability to not easily be frightened. Those were the qualifications Joe sought. In comes Sergeant Ethel Pletcher. Not only does she tower over the boys in size, but her huge heart takes over the house and their lives, as well. Sgt. Pletcher proves that the Slagel boys aren't really all that bad, they just need someone that understands them, and at times, a peacekeeper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: GreatOne AS
• Release date: Feb 2, 2011

Book preview

THE PEACEKEEPER

By

Jacqueline Druga

THE PEACEKEEPR

By Jacqueline Druga

Copyright 2000 by Jacqueline Druga.

Published by GreatoneAS at Smashwords

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person or persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book is dedicated to my sons, Noah and Drew, for demonstrating what it truly means to be brothers.

THE BOYS

CHAPTER ONE

A soaking wet newspaper rested in the middle of a puddle made by the sprinkler. Mr. Kale’s black dress shoes stopped inches before the paper. Grumbling, he bent down to it, fixed his glasses, and lifted it. Immediately, he focused on the speeding black bicycle zipping down the street and the thirteen-year-old paper boy who failed to sit down as he rode. He held the paper high and water dripped down upon his angry face. Hal Slagel!

Hal Slagel cringed as he stopped his bike. His shoulders hunched, making the dark-blonde hair, that came to his neck, seem a little longer. Innocently he peered over his shoulder. Hey, Mr. Kale.

Get . . . Mr. Kale paused to wipe the water from his face. Get back here, he ordered.

Not wanting to, but knowing he had to, Hal turned his bike around and rode to the Kale home. Hi, Mr. Kale. Wow, is that a new tie you’re . . .

Hal. Mr. Kale was firm. How many times do I have to tell you not to toss the paper when the sprinkler . . .

Did Robbie do that? Hal let out a heavy breath. I cannot believe my little brother did that. I’m trying to teach him how deliver papers. Wow. I am really sorry. I’ll talk to him.

Hal, you’re delivering on this street.

Um . . . Hal shook his head. Actually, I just showed up not ten seconds before you. See, I was over at Mrs. Watson’s. She’s been ill, you know. I had to feed her cats and read to her while . . .

Hal. Mr. Kale rubbed his eyes. Just . . . give me another paper.

Oh, sure. Hal reached into his paper sack. I don’t mind having to pay for it. I mean, I do have to pay for it. Did you know I have to pay for any papers that are not . . .

Hal, Again, Mr. Kale interrupted him. Never mind. Just tell your brother to be careful next time.

You got it. Thanks. Without looking back, Hal sped off. A huge smile graced his face. He continued to deliver his papers, like he always did. Tossing as he rode, never looking, and never slowing down.

^^^^

If he wasn’t little enough for ten, Robbie Slagel looked much smaller when he delivered the newspapers on his part of the route. The newspaper sack he toted was so big, it nearly drug on the ground as he moved at his own carefree pace.

Here you go, Mrs. Haynes. Robbie flashed a bright smile. He stood on the porch of the little white house, handing the paper to the elderly woman at her door.

Oh, Robbie. Mrs. Haynes spoke sweetly to him. Thank you, dear.

Robbie smiled again, turning off the porch and moving slowly down her walkway. He stopped at the sidewalk when in the hedges he saw a baseball. Robbie bent down and grinned. It was a perfectly good ball, and it couldn’t be Mrs. Haynes. So not wanting to waste it, he put it in his paper sack.

Robbie, Hal called out, speeding toward him. Hal didn’t look like he was going to stop, he kept smiling, riding closer. Just as Robbie shrieked, Hal skid to a stop.

I’m telling Dad you almost hit me again, Robbie said.

No, you won’t.

All right. Oh, hey, Hal. Robbie opened his paper sack. Look what I found.

Hal peered in. Oh, that’s mine, thanks. Hal reached in and took the ball. Man, Robbie, you’d better move it.

Why?

Because it’s not cool to be this slow. Here. Hal took some of the papers. I’ll do the houses on the end.

Thanks. Robbie smiled.

No problem. Hal began to ride, yelling as he did, and hurry up!

O.K. Robbie grabbed a paper from his sack and moved slowly to the next house.

Ten. Hal tossed a paper. It sailed up and into a bush. Nine. Hal tossed another. Eight. Another throw. Seven.

CRASH!

Whoops. Hal looked back, only briefly, then picked up his speed riding off of the street.

^^^^

Frank, please pay attention. Jimmy Slagel, fifteen, held open a book as he paced his room. He fixed his glasses that kept slipping from his nose every time he peered down to his big brother.

Frank Slagel lay on Jimmy’s bed. His too-tall body for his age, taking up most of the bed’s length. He tossed a baseball up and down catching it. Jimmy, do you think baseball is losing its glory.

Yes. Now we have to get back . . .

And where did you get that shirt?

Jimmy’s hand ran down the solid button down shirt. What’s wrong with my shirt?

You look like Dad.

No, I don’t. Now, back to this final.

See, this is what I don’t understand. Frank rubbed his short black hair and swung his legs over the side of the bed to sit.

Math, yes, that’s why I’m helping you.

No. Frank shook his head. Why do I need math? What purpose will it serve me later in life?

Jimmy chuckled. You’re kidding me, right? He saw the serious look on Frank’s face. You’re not kidding? Frank, it’s basic math. Everyone needs basic math in their life.

Maybe because it bores me. Frank began to bite his nails. Maybe I need incentive.

Incentive? Jimmy, frustrated, slid a chair closer to the bed. How about this for incentive, Frank? If you don’t pass this math final, next year, you are going to be the only kid in the eleventh grade old enough to vote.

Oh.

Exactly. Jimmy showed him the book. Let’s do this.

^^^^

‘No car in the driveway. No Dad.’ Those were Hal’s thoughts as he jumped off his bike before it even stopped, letting it fall to the ground as he kept on running. He dropped his paper sack by the front door, barreled through and charged up the steps straight to his room. He slammed his door, plopped with a bounce on his bed, reached under his pillow and pulled out a notebook and pen. Laying on his stomach, he caught his breath, and began to do homework.

Upon hearing the bang of the screen door, thump on the steps, and slam of a door, Jimmy and Frank looked at each other and spoke at the same time.

Hal.

Frank stood up. Should we ask him what he did?

He’ll say he didn’t do anything.

Well, he can’t blame me. I’ve been with you.

When did that ever matter? Jimmy asked.

You’re right. Frank sat back down. Let’s get back to this.

^^^^

Ruth.

The stepmother from the dark side and the reason that bears hibernate--according to the Slagel Boys. She was also the stepmother that earned the title, the ‘too’ woman. Because each of them had a ‘too’ reason.

To Frank, she was ‘too’ young to be his mom.

Jimmy swore she was ‘too’ intellectually challenged.

Hal believed her hair was ‘too’ blonde.

And Robbie thought she just took ‘too’ long in the bathroom when he had to go.

Ruth.

She sashayed from the kitchen to the dining room. Fluffing her hair and checking the position of the silverware on the table. A table for six neatly set. She looked at her watch and moved to the living room.

Slowly the front door opened. Ruth saw the short and wavy blonde hair first. She gasped when Robbie walked in. Look at you, she scolded, walking over to him.

Robbie was lost as he shut the door. He still carried his huge paper sack.

Now, you will march upstairs and change those clothes, Ruth ordered.

O.K. Robbie shrugged and moved to the steps.

And comb that hair.

O.K. Robbie started walking.

Wash that face, Ruth instructed. Your father will be here soon. He doesn’t need to see a group of messy boys. You hear me?

O.K.

Robbie, Ruth called his name with an edge. Can you please say something else besides ‘O.K.’?

O.K.

Ruth was not pleased. She made a noise. It sounded like a cat growling, but it was a growl none-the-less. And when Robbie heard it, he snickered and hurried up the steps.

Changing his shirt was something he would do, but later. Robbie knocked once on Hal’s door then opened